Road Bike Vs Tri Bike?
TylerJ76
Posts: 4,375 Member
I am in the market for a new bike, my hybrid just isn't cutting it anymore.
That being said I am stuck on which to buy. I am going to be competing in triathlons, hopefully an Ironman in the next few years. But I also want a bike that I can just take out and ride with friends.
Do I go for the tri bike??
That being said I am stuck on which to buy. I am going to be competing in triathlons, hopefully an Ironman in the next few years. But I also want a bike that I can just take out and ride with friends.
Do I go for the tri bike??
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I am in the market for a new bike, my hybrid just isn't cutting it anymore.
That being said I am stuck on which to buy. I am going to be competing in triathlons, hopefully an Ironman in the next few years. But I also want a bike that I can just take out and ride with friends.
Do I go for the tri bike??
It's a tough call for someone that is looking for something versitile. Tri bikes aren't multi-taskers. Just remember that. They are however very efficient at what they're designed to do.0 -
It's a tough choice. Especially when you want to do more than just triathlon's for it. Like Scott said the tri bike is very efficient and you will go faster and/or use less energy. However you can buy more road bike for the same value as a tri bike, road bikes are more comfortable for longer distances. I faced this question earlier this year when I was looking for a new bike, in the end I bought a cannondale supersix road bike and put aero bars and a profile design seat forward post on it to give it a little more feel like a tri bike. I sometimes miss a tri bike though but I'm happy that I can use my bike for more than just triathlons. One of the things I find is I am more comfortable riding. Which is one of the main things when choosing a bike. I think you need to try both and different brands of each to find what you like.0
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Whatever you decide to do drop the $$ for a proper bike fitting. Most of the time that IS NOT the "fitting" they do with you purchase. If you're in a club ask who they use for bike fitting. You can also look for ReTul fitters in your area. The amount of miles you're going to log training for an IM is no joke and comfort and efficiency levels are going to be really important. A proper fitting in Houston is $250ish from the leading bike fitters in town.0
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When facing this question, I ended up buying a Kestrel Talon TT bike. Its geometry is less aggressive than a standard tri bike, about as close to a road bike as tri bikes get. So I'm pretty comfortable using it in any situation, from fast and hard to hills to long. And it's got great handling. Better handling than the road bike it replaced. It's just a great all around ride. I don't go riding with the local cycling groups, so no worries there. Every time I ride, it's basically all tri bikes.
You're planning on doing some pretty hilly racing, so whatever you do, if I were you, I'd make sure you have a bike that can get you up the hills. Proper gearing will come in very handy for you, along with a fit that makes it easy to get comfortable going uphill.
I hope this helps.
TriJoe.
And yes, the "Get a good fit!" advice is probably some of the best advice you'll get. A bad fit on a great bike still makes for a bad ride.0 -
You could always put aerobars on your road bike. This will also give you a few more options for where you can put your hands.
I had a tri bike and a road bike and I did Ironman on my tri bike. My friend did it on a road bike with aerobars and we both finished. I just sold my tri bike and bought a hybrid as I didn't ride my tri bike at all anymore.0
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